Sylvie Paillard
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Members of the 樱桃视频Nation waved, cheered and gave the thumbs up sign to the first truckload of logs coming out of Tree Farm Licence 38 under First Nations stewardship 38 Monday (May 1).
The truck passed through numerous 樱桃视频Nation reserves Monday morning so that community members and elders could celebrate the inaugural load.
"The happiness is that we are visibly showing the rest of 樱桃视频and British Columbia that we as aboriginal people can be contributors to the economy," said Chief Bill Williams. "We always have been, but we haven't been able to show in the way that we can through the TFL."
The 樱桃视频Nation bought the 900,000 hectare tree farm licence from Interfor for $6.5 million in late December 2005 and local forestry consultants CRB Logging was hired to help manage the newly formed Northwest 樱桃视频Logging, a company held in trust with the 樱桃视频Nation.
The tenure has an annual cut (AAC) of 109,453 cubic meters per year, and Northwest 樱桃视频Logging retained Elaho as the contractor so no one would lose a job.
"Northwest 樱桃视频Logging company ensures that people can see that we are net contributors to the economy that we are contributing jobs not just for our community but every job that is out there right now are still part of the contract with Interfor," said Williams.
The deal also bodes well for the future of 樱桃视频Nation members.
"It just creates such a positive image not only for our children," said Williams. "They now have job opportunities in all levels of management and it's something that is long term because we look at the forest as being there forever and we expect to do this forever also."
